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Syringomyelia News 2007 - update from Clare Rusbridge

****Sorry I can't add in the photos, this will be going up in full on http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/ shortly, but thought you may like to read it for now...***

SYRINGOMYELIA NEWS 2007
A research update
By Clare Rusbridge and Penny Knowler
Stone Lion Veterinary Centre, 41 High Street, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5AUneuro.vet@btinternet.com (CR) Confidential Fax: 020 87860525penny.knowler@ntlworld.com (SPK)
International Neurology Conference November 2006
This meeting was hosted by the Cavalier Club UK and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd
and enabled veterinarians with an interest in syringomyelia to share views and ideas. In addition to
inviting veterinarians from Europe, Canada and the USA, the Cavalier Club UK also included
breed club representatives from across the UK with the aim of disseminating information about
this disease to the wider breeder and dog owning population. Thanks are due to Karlin Lillington
for expertise and hard work in reporting the details of the scientific papers and neurologists’ Round
Table. These are posted on her website http://sm.cavaliertalk.com andhttp://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/ and elsewhere. The outcome of the meeting was very positive
and it is hoped that this co-operation between all the specialists and the breeders will result in the
research being moved forward. There was agreement on confusing terminology and the revision of
the interim breeding guidelines (see websites) The most significant point is that an ‘A’ Grade
should only be given to dogs over 2.5 years of age which do not have a syrinx. A hydromyelia is
acceptable only if it is less than 2mm in C2/3 area (i.e. barely visible with good resolution MRI)
Neurologist’s round table, International Conference RVC
Current Research
Various ongoing research programmes are outlined in Clare’s PhD thesis p.192-3. The successful
public defence at Utrecht University on February 15th 2007 was really a memorable day made
much more so by the guard of honour from 20 cavaliers and the Cavaliergilde Breeders.
The main conclusions of the thesis were as follows
1) Syringomyelia has a high incidence in the cavalier King Charles spaniel breed and the tendency
for it is suspected to be inherited. Preliminary results from a genome scan suggested some
interesting regions which warrant further investigation
2) Syringomyelia is seen in association with a Chiari-like malformation in this breed however a
definite link between small caudal fossa volume and fluid cavitation within the spinal cord has yet
to be established
3) It is hypothesised that syringomyelia occurs secondary to cerebrospinal fluid obstruction and
abnormal pressure differentials between the spinal cord and subarachnoid space. It is further
hypothesised that the syringomyelic fluid is extracellular rather than cerebrospinal in origin
4) Syringomyelia can result in a neuropathic pain syndrome and this is more likely with a wide
syrinx and damage to the spinal cord dorsal horn.
5) Scoliosis is also likely with a wide syrinx and damage to the spinal cord dorsal horn
6) Medical treatment of syringomyelia associated pain should be directed at agents active at the
level of the spinal cord dorsal horn. Drugs that reduce cerebrospinal fluid pressure may also be
helpful
7) Surgical cranial cervical decompression can improve clinical signs of pain however the
syringomyelia is generally persistent.
A summary information sheet has been included in this newsletter called ‘CM_SM Explained’.
Fig 3 –the treatment algorithim has not been updated this time.
Copies of the thesis have been sent to the Chairman/Health Secretaries of the following
Clubs/Libraries for members’ use. If there is any other National Club or Institution that would like
a copy please contact Penny Knowler.

The Cavalier Club UK
ACKCSC
CKCSC Netherlands
CKCSC of USA
CKCSC Canada
CKCSC Australia
CKSC South Africa (Rand)
Association FCKC
CKCS Health Foundation
The American Kennel Club Library
Royal College Veterinary Surgeons Trust Library
Glasgow Veterinary School Library
Royal Veterinary Collage Library
Carlson Heath Sciences Library (Davis University)
University Library Guelph (Canada)
Individuals wanting a personal copy
are requested to make a donation to
the ‘Syringomyelia DNA research’
fund accessed by PAYPALhttps://www.paypal.com and emailpenny.knowler@ntlworld.com with
the address to send the copy. Detailshttp://www.cavalierhealth.org/books.
htm or just email Penny.